Hey Siestas!!! I barely have words to express how much of an honor it is for me to share with y’all. I absolutely adore Mama Beth and the community that she has cultivated here on the interwebs!
My name is Karina Allen. I am 35 and from New Orleans, LA but have lived in Baton Rouge since 1998. Much of my time here is spent at the gym, babysitting or at my local church, Healing Place. I am involved in a myriad of ministries and outreaches. I am on the worship team, a leader for High School girls, active in our women’s ministry, nursery registration team volunteer, a part of young adult ministry, and a teacher for our kids’ dance ministry. I also help with our inner city outreaches and to bring awareness to human trafficking through Trafficking Hope Inc. I taught preschool for about 10 years but I knew that that wasn’t the call of God on my life. I am a freelance writer and editor. I’m a contributor for Incourage as well as a few other sites. I am working on my certification to be a Life Coach. I long to speak, hope, truth, life, encouragement and purpose into the souls of women. My dream is for each woman to fully walk out their identity in Christ in the specific calling that He has for each of their lives.
“…and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” Isaiah 61:3 NIV
Really, the whole of Isaiah 61 is incredible! It is all about the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord and what His anointing empowers us to have and to be. I don’t know about you, but most days I don’t feel empowered. I feel a bit defeated by life, others and even myself. But that is not God’s will for my life or for yours. His desire is for His Spirit to come alive in us, to overflow and impact those around us.
Recently, I was at my friend Elizabeth’s house working on some writing projects. She has this gorgeous black and white photo hanging of an oak tree from New Orleans’ City Park. And verse 3 of Isaiah 61 was beautifully written underneath it. My gaze repeatedly returned to that photo and that verse much of the night. It’s as though the Lord was trying to get my attention. I knew that this needed to be a verse that I committed to memory and needed to become embedded within my very marrow.
1.) God wants to trade the pain we acquire from this world with His good and perfect gifts. Before sin entered the world, mourning and despair were never even a concern. The world has been bombarded with evil and suffering. People cause harm and bad things happen. But God wants us to know that even in the midst of tragedy, we can experience His peace, comfort and even joy.
2.) Through the trading process, God’s dream is for us to become oaks of righteousness. Now, this may not seem like something we would want to be described as, but it should be. Oak trees are remarkable! They are strong, tough and extremely resilient. They have roots that reach down deep into the earth. When we exchange our hurt with the Lord’s goodness, this is the outcome. We dig deep into His Word and discover His promises for us. We stand firm on that foundation and the storms of life are unable to shake us. We allow Him to be the lifter of our heads and fill us with His hope. We become confident that He will work all things together for good to those of us that love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
3.) As we grow to be oaks of righteousness, we turn into a display of the Lord’s splendor. On display for all to see…that is an intimidating thought. Don’t let it be. People watch us. They watch how we live and what we say if we profess Christ. They watch how we respond in both good and bad seasons. That’s okay. As we are conformed to the image of Christ, others take notice and eventually desire to know why our lives are different. That is often how the Father draws hearts to Himself.
My Sister…
Beauty, joy and praise await you.
Deep roots are calling out to you.
His splendor is ready to be displayed through you.
For His Name and His Renown,
Karina Allen
Katie Davila, Tomball, TX:
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:14 (ESV)
Tammy, Dothan, Al. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses,made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV
Gwyn Tidwell of Haslet, Tx
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:5 (NIV84)
Karen Stark
Tallahassee, FL
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
Joshua 3:5 NIV
Kathy Seitz Noblesville IN
Proverbs 4:18 (GNT)
The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until the daylight has come.
Giovana Cavarretta, Boca Raton, FL
“Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
Jamie Raborn from Ooltewah, TN
Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Emily, Loveland, CO – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 (NASB)
Deb, Loveland, CO – “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NKJV)
Cindee Johnson
Portageville, Mo
Your Word I have hidden in my heart
that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 NKJV
Holly, Cape May
Psalm 107:28 “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.” NIV
Beth, Lanisng, MI
Jeremiah 24:7 ESV
I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
Cara from Houston, Tx
Hosea 10:12 (ESV)
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
Dan P, Warren MI. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 ESV
Lynda from Ocala, FL: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
Lee Ann Wimer, Norman, Oklahoma
“In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”
Ephesians 2:2 NKJV
I know that everything God does will endure forever, nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. Ecclesiastes 3:14a NLT
Andrea, Pottstown
Psalm 33:22 HCSB
May Your faithful love rest on us Yahweh, for we put our hope in You.
Teri in Kalamazoo:
[1Th 3:12-13 NASB] and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
Johannah, Alexandria , LA
“Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€115:1‬ â€NIV‬‬
Michelle Moultrie, Birmingham, AL “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ” 2 Corinthians 10:5
Kim
n
New Port Richey, FL
Psalm5:3 NIV
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”
Kim Bignon- Orlando, Florida
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hop ewe profess,for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 NIV)
Dawn Moore Conway, AR
Psalm 51:12 NLT
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you.
Connie, Chariton, Iowa, Micah 7:7ESV But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
Santa Clarita, CA: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Farher, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Mat 6:6, NIV
Tarsha, St. PETE., FL
“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” 2 Samuel 7:22 NIV
Salem, VA
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV
Psalm 9:9 NIV
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Bonny Hansen, Mitchell , SD
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
â€â€Proverbs‬ â€3:9-10‬ â€NIV‬‬
Jamie McClary, Columbus, OH
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians3:13-14 NASB
Tammy Martinez, Burleson, TX
“Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€16:9-10‬ â€ESV‬‬
Susan Jasper, TN
Psalm 9:1 (NIV)
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart,
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
Susan Davis, Lawrenceville GA
Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. NIV
Elise, Cypress TX
Luke 9:23-24 ESV
And he said to all, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Toni Schumacher Amarillo Texas
And provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display on His splendor.
Jackie, Noblesville, IN
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 NLT
Candice Simpson
Bloomington, IN
He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 NLT
Cedartown, GA
Psalm 143: 8-10
Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in You.
Show me the way I should go,
for to You I lift up my soul.
Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in You.
Teach me to do Your good will,
for You are my God;
may Your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
Jackie Watson from Marietta, Ga. “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.'” 1 Samuel 7:12, NIV
Wendy
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV
Pati S, Macomb, MI
Proverbs 3:6 (NLT)
Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
â€â€Revelation‬ â€2:7‬ â€NIV‬‬
Teresa, Orange City. 1 Peter 5:7 (NET)
…by casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you.
Jenny
Covington, KY
“that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
â€â€Romans‬ â€8:21‬ â€NIV‬
Stephanie from Houston, TX: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 (ESV)
When pride comes then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2a
Robin Sandlin—- Denver City, Tx
Guard your heart above all else for
it is the source of life. Prov. 4:23
Bonnie Mink Hendersonville, TN But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles Isaiah 40:31 A
Chris
Canton, NC
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.
1 Peter 1:6
NLT